S'pore tightens labor rules

S'pore tightens labor rules

SINGAPORE (AP): Responding to falling productivity in the
building industry, Singapore will require all foreign
construction workers to pass a basic skills test before they can
enter the country to work, a newspaper reported on Friday.

The government will progressively increase the proportion of
foreigners capable of passing the test, which verifies
construction skills such as reading basic drawings and
understanding some English, said The Straits Times.

Singapore imports most of its manual laborers from Malaysia,
Thailand, India and Bangladesh. About 450,000 people with basic
work passes -- including maids -- live in the country.

From April next year, 50 percent of all construction workers
from abroad will have to pass the test, up from the existing 20
percent level.